Feast of the Assumption

The baroque painting of Ruben's Assumption of Mary.

Today is the feast of the Assumption of Mary. According to the belief of some Christians the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of Mary into Heaven at the end of her life.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Dormition on Mount Zion.

The Church of the Tomb of Mary.

Yesterday we visited the tomb of Mary on the Mount of Olives near the Garden of Gethsemane. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that Mary died and was buried here in the Kidron Valley, on the foothills of the Mount of Olives, near the Church of All Nations and Gethsemane garden, originally just outside Jerusalem.

The interior of the Church of the Tomb of Mary. The sarcophagus tomb is just behind the altar.